Grinding machinery



Sept. 16, 1930. J, E. cAs ET AL 1,776,241

GRINDING MACHINERY v Filed Aug. 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z911 A7 m A? /4 gwuwntw Sept 1930.

J. E. CASTER ET AL.)-

GRINDING MACHINERY Filed 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r JOHN E. CASTER AND FRED S. HAAS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO; ASSIGNORS TO CINCINNATI GRINDERS INCORPORATED, 015 CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO GRINDING MACHINERY Application filed August 5, 1927. Serial No. 210,821.

This invention relates to improvements in grinding machinery and has particular reference to a machine adapted for the grinding of headed articles such as internal combustion engine valves.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a mechanismwhich shall make it possible to accurately concentrically grind the seating face of internal combustion engine valves or the like in a minimum of time.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine which shall be capable of ready adjustment to vary the angle of face to be formed.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a semi-automatically operated.

machine which will permit of loading and unloading of work pieces in a minimum of time and insure satisfactory positive gripping and rotating of the work pieces during the grinding operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and it will be understood that we may make any modifications in the specific structural details hereinafter disclosed within the scope of the appended claims, :without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of our improved machine.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the work holding and drive mechanism.

Figure 4 is a vertical section as on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the ejector mechanism, the work piece being shown in section, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the workhead control cam and associate parts.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates the bed of the grinder provided with a diagonally extending slide 11 for carriage 12 hearing the grinding wheel 13 driven by a suitable belt 14. A hand wheel 15 on the front of the bed serves to impart in and out adjusting movement to carriage 12 for proper adjustment of the grinding wheel with respect to the work. Transversely shiftable on the bed at the forward portion thereof is a table 17 bearing the work' driving and supporting mechanism. This table may be suitably reciprocated as through the rack 18 and segment 19. Segment 19 is secured on a rock shaft 20 provided withan actuating handle 21. As the table is particularly intended for rapid shifting from grinding to non-grinding position, although capable of slight oscillatory movement during grinding, the bed is preferably provided with a stop 22 and the table with a pair of adjustable dogs 23-24. These latter may be so set as to engage opposite sides of the stop lug 22 limiting the movement of the table in a retracted direction for loading and likewise limiting its inward feeding movement.

Supported by the table 17 is the work retaining and driving unit comprising a bed plate 25 pivotally supported by the table as at 26 and capable of being secured in angu larly adjusted position as by clamp bolt 27 riding in'arcuate slot 28 of the bed plate.

This bed plate carries a drive motor 29 coupled by belt 30 with the speed reduction unit 31 which terminates in the driven worm.

gear 32 of spindle 33. This spindle is journalled in'the bearing bushing 34 sup orted by hearing lugs 35 and 36 of block 37 on the bed plate. Spindle 33 bears the driving pulley 38 for the work driving belt 39.

The bushing or sleeve 34 serves to rotatably support the arms 40 and 41 of the oscillating work carrier plate 42.' This plate has mounted thereon the studs 4344 for the idler pulleys 45-46. It also supports the pivot bolt 47 for rock arm 48 which has at one end the take-up pulley 49 engaged within belt 39 and has its opposite end actuated by spring 50, one end of which is secured to the arm and the other to plate 42.

- The carrier plate =42 is further provided with rock shaft 51 bearing on one end the ejector arm 52 having an ejecting finger 53. The shaft is further provided with a stop lug or flange 54 whose movement is limited by stud 55, a spring 56 serving to normally hold the parts in engagement with the finger 53 underlyin and in the path of the work, but capable 0 being swung outward'as hereinafter described.

To retain work pieces in position for grinding the block 37 has rising therefrom pivot ears 57 supporting the work engaging antifriction rolls 58 disposed in pairs at either side of the work driving belt and associate mechanisms. Block 37 further has the bracket 59 having the chamber 60 for piston or collar 61 on work engaging pin 62. The pin is urged in the direction of the work by interposed spring 63 and forms in effect a movable footstock center for engagement in the center or socket at the end of the valve stem 64. The block 37 is additionally provided with an upwardly extending'arm 65 bearing the adjustable screw 66 having a cone point 67 for engagement in a second center in the head 68 of the valve. A lock nut 69 serves to secure the work engaging screw in proper adjusted position for contact with grinding wheel 13.

In the operation of the machine as described the work table is normally in a left hand position or retracted with respect to the grinding wheel. When in this-position the carrier plate 42 is so raised that the idlers 45-46 are disposed above the supporting plane of the work so that belt 39 extends directly across, from one to the other, the slack being taken up by swinging movement of tightener 49 as actuated by spring 50. To raise and hold the carrier plate in this position, use is preferably made of the link 7 0 whose lower end has the ball 71 operating in socket 72 carried by lever arm 73. This arm is pivoted as at 74 to the-table 17 and has a pin 75 riding in cam slot 76 of control plate 77 mounted direct on the bed 10.- As the table is shifted to the left in 7 5 is carried into the upper part of slot 6 thus raising the entire swinging carrier unit.

lVith the parts in this position the valve to be ground is placed with the end of its stem against the pin 62 and is pressed downward until its head properly interengages with cone point 67 of positioning screw 66 when the spring pressed pin will lock the valve in place. The table is then moved to the right as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 when pin 75 will ride into the lower portion of slot 76,.

the parts occupying the position shown in Figure 6. This causes the carrier plate to also be moved into the position as shown in Figure 4 in which the pulleys 45-46 mov downward at opposite sides of the valve stem. pressing the belt39 therearound so that the belt frictionally engages the exterior of the stem and serves to impart a rotary motion to the valve. The pressure of the belt against the valve is taken up by the rollers 58, so that the belt firmly presses the valve stem against these rollers insuring its proper positioning and retention in the machine, and the spring pressed pin 62 has merely to steady the valve prior to this engagement and also to hold it after the 'belt has been again taken out of contact therewith. As the carrier is swung stem.

The grinding having been completed han-' readily withdrawn by the operator and a new piece substituted.v

From the foregoing the operation of our improved valve grinding machine should be readily understood'and it will be seen that we have provided a simple and efiic'ient ma-.

chine in which individual valves may be readily mounted, in which the actual positioning of the valve during grinding is positively determined by the stemof the valve as distinguished from the centers formed in the head and end, so that the valve seat is accurately produced concentric with the stem itself insuring most desirable final fit of the valve on its valve seat. It will also be noted that on account of the angles at which seats may have to be ground that the grinding wheel slide is placed on an angle and the surface of the wheel so bevelled as'to parallel with the line of motion of the table, while allowing sufficient space for the pulleys and drive mechanism which might interfere with the side of the grinding wheel were an ordinary type grinder with right angle wheel and wheel slide employed. 7

We claim 1. Work holding'means for a grinding machine, including centers for initially positioning the work, work rest members for supplementing the centers in positioning the work, and friction driving means engaging and pressing the work against the work rest members.

2. A machine of the character described. including a bed, a grinding wheel carried thereby, a work supporting member adjacentthe grinding wheel,- means ,on the member for initially retaining the work, and additional means including a rotating friction I I I mechanism for retaimng and driving the her for retaining the work, additional means 1 including a rotating friction mechanism for retaining and driving the work piece, means for shifting the work and support in the direction of the grinding wheel, and means for clamping the work in position.

4.. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a. grinding wheel, of a work positioning mechanism adjacent thereto, including a supporting block, centers carried by the block, supplemental work supports adjacent the centers, a swinging carrier on the-support, a driven belt member on the carrier, and means for shifting the carrier to move the belt into driving engagement with a work piece.

5. A machine for grinding valve faces or the like, including abed or support, a grinding wheel carried thereby having an operative face, and a work table disposed adja-- cent the grinding wheel and transversely shiftable with respect to the operative face thereof, a work supporting fixture mounted on the table and having means for supporting work in predetermined angular relation to the operative face of the wheel, means for supporting a work piece on the'fixture, and additional meanh for rotating the work piece while so supported, said means including a driven belt frictionally engaging a portion of the work piece.

6. A machine for gginding valve faces or the like, including a d or support, a grinding wheel carried thereby having an operative face, and a work table disposed adjacent the grinding wheel and transversely shiftable with respect to the operative face thereof, a work supporting fixture mounted on the table and having means for supporting work in predetermined angular relation to the operative face of the wheel, additional means for rotating the workpiece while so supported, said means including a driven belt frictionally engaging a portion of the work piece, and work supporting members mounted on the fixture in opposition to the belt to prevent displacement of the work thereby.

7. A machine for grinding valve faces or the like, including a bed or support, a grinding wheel carried thereby having an operative face, and a work table disposed adjacent the grinding wheel and transversely shiftable with respect to the operative face thereof, a work supporting fixture mounted on the table and having-means for supporting work in predetermined angular relation to the operative face of the wheel, additional means-for rotating the work piece while so supported, said means including a driven belt frictionally engaging a portion of the work piece, work supporting members mounted on the fixture in opposition to the belt to prevent displacement of the work thereby, means for moving the work into and out of operative relation with the grinding wheel, and synchronously actuated means for clamping and releasing the work as the fixture is moved into and out of operative position.

8. A machine of the character described, including a grinding wheel and a work supporting fixture, said fixture including work centeringmeans and supplemental pressure opposing means, a swinging carrier adjacent tive relation to the grinding wheel, andmeans for automatically shifting the friction device into engagement with the work as the fixture is moved into operative position and forretracting the friction device as the fixture is withdrawn.

10. ln a grinding machine, the combination with a work holder, of means for rotatmg the work within the holder, including a spring tensioned driven belt, and means for shifting the belt against the spring tension means to cause the belt to partially circumscribe the work piece, J

11. A machine for grinding headed articles or the like, including a grinding wheel and a work holding fixture adjacent the grinding wheel, said fixture including means for terminally engaging a work pieceand means for laterally engaging the body portion thereof, said body portion engaging means includ ing a flexible friction drive device for imparting rotation thereto.

12. A machine for grinding headed articles i or the like, including a grinding wheel and a work holding fixture adjacent the grinding wheel, said fixture including means for terminally engaging a work piece, means for laterally engaging the body portion thereof,

said body portion engaging means including a friction drive device. for imparting rotation thereto, means for moving the friction device out of engagement with the workpiece, and an ejector member operative on withdrawal of the friction device for disengaging the work piece from the supports.

13. A machine for the grinding of valve stems or the like, including a grinding wheel and a work supporting fixture movable toward and from the grinding wheel, said fixture including centering points for terminal engagement with the work to initially position the same, additional means for lateral support of the work whereby the final positioning is in accordance with the contour of the body of the work irrespective of the centers, and a friction drive member movable to force the work against said latter support.

14. A machine of the character described, including a bed or support, a grinding wheel carriage mounted thereon, a table carried by the support and movable at an obtuse angle relative to the grinding wheel, a work supporting fixture mounted on the table for angular adjustment relative thereto, means for traversing the table at an angle to the grinding wheel, means for initially positioning a work piece thereon, and additional means for subsequently engaging and rotating the positioned work piece. 1

15. In a machine of the class described the combination of a support, a grinding wheel carried by the support, a table movable on the support toward and from the grinding wheel, a workholding fixture carried by the table, means for clamping the workpiece in the fixture, said means including a swinging member, a cam plate carried by the support and a lever having one end connected to the swinging member and the other end slideable engaging the cam plate, whereby when the table is moved toward the grinding wheel the work piece will be clamped in the fixture and released therefrom, when the table is moved away from the grinding. wheel.

16. In a machine of the class described the combination of a support, a grinding wheel mounted thereon, a table carried by the support and moveable toward and from the grinding wheel, a work holding fixture carried by the table, means for securing a work piece in the fixture, and additional means for operating the work securing means when the table is moved toward the grinding wheel and for releasing said work securing means when the table is'moved away from the grinding wheel.

17. In a machine of the character described the combination of a bed, a grinding wheel carried thereby, a work supporting mechanism for presenting work pieces to the grinding wheel, said work supporting mechanism including a pair of centers terminally engaging the work for initially positioning same, means peripherally supporting the work for rotation on a preformed portion thereof while it is being ground, and

means for rotating the work on its pre-' and means including a slide for urgmg the work into the grinding wheel for removal ofthe' stock from the work.

19. In a machine of the character de-- scribed the combination of a bed, a grinding wheel carried thereby, a work supporting fixture reciprocably carried by the bed and including a slide, a work table carried by the slide, means on the table for terminally engaging a work piece for initially positioning same, means for peripherally supporting the work on a pre-ground portion thereof, means for frictionally engaging the work and forcing same against the peripheral support while rotating the work, means pivotally connecting the work table to the slide, and additional means clamping the work table to the slide in its adjusted ositions.

20. In a machine 0 the character scribed the'combination of a bed, a grinding wheel carried thereby, and a self contained work supporting fixturereciprocably carried by the bed and including a slide, a work table carried by the slide, a prime mover on the table, means on the table for terminally engaging a work piece for initially positioning same, means for peripherally supporting the work on a pre-ground portion thereof, and means operatively connecting with the prime mover forfrictionally engaging the work and forcing same against a peripheral support while rotating the work.

being mounted for relative shifting movement to clamp a. work piece therebetween, means for progressively shifting the surface of one of the members with respect to the work piece to frictionally engage and effect rotation of the work piece, and means operable to separate the members to unclamp a work piece and to shift same out of grinding position in the fixture.

22. In a machine of the character described the combination with a support of a rotary grinding wheel mounted thereon and a Work support unit adjacent the grinding wheel including a pair of supporting members and a third friction driving member adapted to III - ing a grinding whe 05 tive relation to the grinding wheel, sai fixsimultaneously engage a cylindrical ortion .of a work piece to support, clamp an rotate same, one of said members being shiftable with respect to another thereof to effect a for shifting the movable member to release a clamped work piece and for sequentially actuating the ejector to cause. a discharge of the work piece. Y

23. In a machine of the character described the combination with a support of a rotary grinding wheel mounted thereon and a work support unit adjacent the grinding wheel including a pair of supporting members and a third friction driving member adapted to si multaneously' engage a cylindrical portion of a work piece to support, clamp and rotate same, one of said members being shiftable with respect to another thereof to efi'ect a clam ing and release of the work piece betwee said members, an ejector, means forv shifting the movable member to release a clamped work piece and for sequentially actuating the ejector to cause a discharge of the work piece, and a manually operable device for efiecting the operation of said means. i

24. A machine of the character described including a support, a grinding wheel carried thereby, a work holding fixture mounted thereon for presentation of a projecting portion of the work piece in operative relation to the grinding wheel, said fixture including a pair of relatively fixed members adapted to rotatably support the body portion of the work piece and a third member 'shiftable toward and from the other two to maintain the work in position thereon, one of said members having an advanceable friction surface for effecting rotation of the supported work piece when clam ed in osition therebetween means for determining the axial position of the work in the -fixture during rotation, and means for eflecting sequential release and ejection of a work piece with respect to the fixture.

25. A valve seat rinding machine includl and a work supporting fixture for presenting a work piece in operative relation to the grinding wheel, said fixture including a supporting means for engagement with the stem of a work iece to determine the axis of rotation thereo power driving means engaging the stem of the work piece for efiecting its rotation, and means for terminally engaging the head of the work piece in opposition to the grinding wheel for maintaining the work piece in engage ment with the grinding wheel during formation of a conical surface on the head of the work piece.

26. A valve seat grinding machine including a grinding wheel and a work supporting fixture for presenting a work piece in o erature includin a supporting means for engagement with the stem of a work iece to determine the axis of rotation thereo ,power driving means engaging the stem ofthe work piece for effecting its rotation, means for terminally .engaging the head of the work piece in opposition to the grinding wheel for maintaining the work piece in engagement with the grinding wheel during formation of a conical surface on the head of the work piece, and means for moving the grinding wheel and fixture one with respect to the other to effect operative engagementand disengagement of the work and grinding wheel.

27. A valve seat grinding machine includ ing a grinding wheel and a work supporting fixture for presenting a work piece in operative relation to the grinding wheel, said fixture including a supporting means for engagernent with the stem of a work piece to determine the axis of rotation thereof, driving means engaging the stem of the work piece for efiecting its rotation, means for terminal-ly engaging the head of the work piece in opposition to the grinding wheel for maintaining the work piece in engagement with the grinding wheel during formation of a conical surface on the head of the work piece, means for moving the grinding wheel and fixture one with respect to the other to efiect operative engagement and disengagement of the workand grinding wheel, and means for ejecting a work piece when in disengaging relation to the grinding wheel.

28. A valve seat grinding machine including a grinding wheel and a work supporting fixture for presenting awork piece 1n opera tive relation to the grinding wheel, said fixture including a supporting means for engagement with the stem of a work piece to determine the axis of rotation thereof, driving means engaging the stem of the work piece for effecting its rotation, means for terminal'ly engaging the head of the work piece in opposition to the grinding wheel for maintaining the work piece in engagement with the grinding wheel during formation of a conical surface on the head of the work piece. means for moving the grinding wheel \and fixture one with respect to the other to effect operative engagement and disengagement of the work and grinding wheel, and means for releasing the engagement of the driving member with the work piece.

29. A valve seat grinding machine including a grinding wheel and a work supporting fixture for presenting a work piece in opera tive relation to the grinding wheel, said finture including a supporting means for en- T taining the work piece in engagement with the grinding wheel during formation of a conical surface on the head of the work piece,

means for moving the grinding wheel and fixture one with respect to the other to effect operative engagement and disengagement of the work and grinding wheel, means for releasing the driving member from the work a piece and means for ejecting a released work piece.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

FRED S. HAAS. JOHN E. GASTER. 

